Son Gabriel J.

Uy July 14, 2017

LLB1 Block A

Her Name - Lady Justice was originally known as the goddess Themis. In
Greek Themis means order. Her other interchangeable names are Justicia or Justice.
She is also associated with the goddesses Astraea, Dike, Eirene, Eunomia, Fortuna,
Tyche, and Maat.

Her Importance
Today our laws and law systems are derived in essence from her stories and ideals.
She began in Greek mythology about 800 B.C. as one of the Titan gods. Each god
held the power of law and Themis was goddess of the order of the natural world. That
means she ordered and organized things like the seasons; i.e., winter follows summer
follows spring (no Fall in Greek mythology). She also planned and ordered the path
of a persons life such as its beginning and end. Importantly she ordered and arranged
what was to happen during each season for both nature and man. It followed that
Caesars, Kings, aristocracy and ordinary people sought her advice and council on all
the laws of nature as well as the laws of mans concerns. There was such advice and
counsel on mans trepidations like farming, war, love, work and marriage.

Her Uniqueness
Interestingly in a traditional male dominated ancient world she was a predominant and
coveted authority of prophecy, advice and law. She is credited as being the first
counselor and the first oracle at Delphi, even before Apollo. In her time she was the
final decision maker on the laws of man and nature. Her popularity influenced and was
mixed into other myths and gods. Around 22 A.D. she first appeared on Roman coins
as the Roman goddess Justitia, Justice. She had become a blend of Greek and
Roman stories. She also borrowed select traits and accessories of other goddesses
such as Dike and Fortuna amongst others. Additionally every period and people has
added their changes to Lady Justice even as gods and goddess had declined with the
rise of Christianity.

HER APPEARANCE - For an artist to study there are few visual representations
of
Themis from ancient times before Christianity. However, Themis sister or half-sister
depending on what school you research is Aphrodite. There are numerous
representations of the ancient Aphrodite in both sculpture and painting. Appropriately
Themis should look similar to her (half) sister Aphrodite as creatively expressed by the
sculptors and artists of the time of her popularity.

HER ART FORM - The classical figurative portrayal of goddesses by both the
Greek and Romans of ancient time through the Renaissance has been bare or barely
draped which was a sign of virtue, or good or justice. The Themis/Lady Justice of
sculptor Gilbert E. Barrera is a created as a Greco-Roman version of the original
manifestation of the earliest Aphrodite (i.e., the Knidos Aphrodite). Barreras version
of the original virtuous bronze shape is in composition with the styles of the Greek
sculptors of antiquity, (i.e., Polykleitean contropasto and Praxitelean S-Curve).
Across Europe this is a timehonored composition since Hellenistic times and in San
Antonio she will be one of the first of her kind for public appreciation. She is
approximately 4 feet in height and weighs about 200 lbs. For accessories she was
fashioned in concert with the Roman symbols of Justicia. She has a simple blindfold,
- balance scales of a design of that day and a common soldiers sword of the period;
plus two added imaginative art symbols, the circle (or sphere) represented by the
earths globe and lastly the curvilinear line as a wind spirited ribbon representing the
sky or heavens.

HER SCULPTURAL STYLE

Contropasto is the counterpoise of the human figure. In 360B.C. the Greek sculptor
Polykleitus mastered it. Here Barreras Themis has one foot (leg) with more weight or
tension and one relaxed showing shift of balance of weight; and Themis back and
arms twist to one side of her hips and leg positions showing naturalness of stress-
free posture. In composition it creates a more vibrant yet relaxed appearance.
Presented on the earths globe the implication here is there will be a change or
adjustment of posture into motion. On a turning world she offers the appearance of
preparedness to adapt her stance and weight. Additionally, fitting to the period of
Themis is the sinuous Scurve developed by the leading sculptor of that period
Praxiteles. Literally it is the form of the
S shape from the top of the figure to the bottom. That style of posture is gracefully
revealed in the Themis of sculptor Barrera. Beginning at the top of the bun of her hair
around her face curving back behind her shoulder then fast down her relaxed leg and
again curving around the earths circle.

THE HAIRSTYLE of Themis is classic Praxiteles as exhibited by his most famous

Aphrodite of Knidos. It is done in a braided bun with two bands holding the hairstyle
close to the head. The figure is natural without covering. For the artists composition it
is intended to also be symbolic of not hiding the processes of justice. Research at this
time has indicated no other Lady Justice around the world presents Themis in this
striking compositional design.

HER SYMBOLS
The Themis of sculptor Barrera is graced with 5 key features. The blindfold, sword
and scales are the classic devices. Here they are gilded in gold to accent them as
the established symbols of Lady Justice. There are two artist added creations: a
ribbon and the earth. Below is a short description of the main accessories.

THE SCALES represent that Lady Justice carefully weighs the claims of each side.
They are referred as the scales of justice. Each scale presents a measure of
evidence.
Therein each scale or dish also has inscribed symbols. On the top side of one dish, a
dove represents good claims; on the bottom side of that dish is a Gemini symbol
representing the witnesses, claims of he said, she said; on the top side of the other
scale a snake represents bad claims; on its bottom side is the symbol of a linen scroll
page which represents written laws or facts; and next to the scroll symbol is a knife, to
represent weapons or instruments used in the claim. The design of the scales of justice
and designs on the dish scales are researched from pre-Christianity and can be found
both on the ancient red vase paintings and in sculpted stone reliefs of the time Themis
was in vogue.

THE SWORD represents the enforcement measures of Lady Justice. It means

Themis stands ready to obligate faithfulness to her decision of reason and justice by
both parties. Here Barreras Justicia holds a sword that is oversized to her body
proportion as the swords size symbolizes a very important facet of justice, respect. In
Barreras composition the sword is barely held by Themis right hand but is very closely
positioned to her body. Thus she does not reign by fisted threat or fear of use of a
weapon but instead she rules and openly exhibits she is prepared to get respect. The
design of the Barrera sword is period appropriate (700 to 300 B.C) to the time of
Themis and is known as a hoplite sword, commonly used by the Greek citizen soldier.

THE BLINDFOLD today probably her most famous symbol - it first appeared in the
fifteenth century. The blindfold represents decisions of objectivity and/or impartial
decision or decision not influenced by wealth, politics, popularity or infamy etc. Here
the composition of sculptor Barrera offers the blindfold with a slight space under the
eyes where it could be implied that Justice may have peeked and not been impartial.
This device is merely an insight for humor to match post rulings conversations of
alleged unfavorable outcomes or unhappy experiences.

HER PARENTS SYMBOLS

The final two symbols are heaven and earth or the sky as a ribbon and the globe of
planet earth. These are artistic additions of sculptor Barrera and are multifaceted. They
are intended to artistically tie the form to its environment; to tie the sculpture and
fountain to San Antonios own family composition; and to reveal more of the marvelous
family story in the mythology of the Greeks. Thus Themis is sculpted with her symbolic
mother and father as a family unit. In some philosophies the sky is the mind and the
earth is the body; and the systems of reason, order and laws are in between. Greek
symbolism can be multifaceted and speculative.

THE EARTH in art represents forms like a circle, sphere, ball or globe which are
fundamental elements of art and here it is used to harmoniously base the figure to the
fountain; and in Greek mythology the earth represents Gaia, (In Greek the word ga
means land or earth) (a.k.a., mother earth, or earth goddess] from which all entities
were born.). Gaia is the mother of Themis. In Roman versions Gaia is known as Terra.

THE SKY the ribbon in art is a line or curvilinear form, also a basic element of art
composition and here represents the heavens or the Sky. In some versions of Greek
mythology Gaia (earth) gave birth to the sky known as Uranus or Ouranos. Ouranos
is the mythological father of Themis and is god of the heavens, god of the sky, the sky
god. The Ouranos with an O spelling is more often seen in the Greek usage, it is
also known as Uranus. Gaia took Ouranos as her husband. They had the 8 Titans of
which Themis was one of 4 daughters. The ribbon is designed to be moving or
changing in the wind as the law and decisions she gives are according to the changing
facts and issues.
HER CHILDREN SYMBOLS
Of family interest also are the three figures that are on the base pedestal of the cast
iron fountain. They are the Seasons; the goddesses of spring, summer and winter,
and are all the daughters of Themis. Their names are Eunomie, Eirene, and Dike and
they were known as the Horae. They are all part of her natural order or natural laws,
plans and systems to the world, i.e. she ordered the seasons and thereby also gave
man his order of work, i.e., in the winter he plants, in the spring he waters his blooms,
and in the summer he harvests. There was also a second set of goddesses called
Horae who ruled over the hours of the day and what man did at those hours. In some
versions her third generation of children were the Morai: Klotho - the spinner of life,
Lacheses the measurer of life and Atropos - the taker of life.